Apparatus for feeding strip material of different widths

ABSTRACT

Strip feeding apparatus of the kind in which a pair of opposed rollers successively flex toward each other opposed regions of the flange members of a rotating reel as those regions are respectively rotated past the rollers, includes a pair of flangeflexing rollers which are movable relative to each other to vary the distance therebetween and thereby provide flexing engagement selectively with reels of different flange member spacing.

I United States Patent 51 Wangerin 1 July 18, 1972 APPARATUS FOR FEEDINGSTRIP R f r n s Cited MATERIAL OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS UNITED STATES PATENTS[72] Inventor: Elmer 0. Wangerin, Rochester, NY. 3,467,340 9/1969Rosenburgh ..242/ I97 ,435 l 1971 W ..24 [73] Assignee: Eastman KodakCompany, Rochester, 3 556 angerm 2,210

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1971 Attorney-W.H. J. Kline and John D. Husser ABS I RACT [21] Appl' (L915 Strip feedingapparatus of the kind in which a pair of opposed rollers successivelyflex toward each other opposed regions of 52] CL 242/210 242/192 242/195the flange members of a rotating reel as those regions are 51] Int ClGubls/66 lb 15/32 respectively rotated past the rollers, includes a pairof flange- Field of Search I i I l 242/192, flexing rollers which aremovable relative to each other to vary the distance therebetween andthereby provide flexing engagement selectively with reels of difierentflange member spacing.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 SheetsSheet. 1

FIG. 2

ELME WANGERIN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

8 A w %)%w ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

wa W1 mgf daw A TTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,499

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ELMER O. WANGERIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR FEEDING STRIP MATERIAL OF DIFFERENT WID'IHSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Reference is made to the commonlyassigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 730,523, entitled FilmThread ing Apparatus, filed in the name of Elmer O. Wangerin on May 20,1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,435.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to the unwinding of strip material from a reel orother support for use at a predetermined location and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for supporting rolls of convoluted stripmaterial of different widths and for feeding a leading strip portionfrom a roll so supported. Moreover, this invention relates to striphandling apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successiveregions of the outermost convolution of a roll of strip material toeffect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from suchroll and which is improved to handle strip material of different widths.

2. Description of the Prior Art Recently, magazine-reel units have beendevised, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340,in which a strip bearing reel is rotatably mounted and retained within aprotective magazine in a manner facilitating storage and feeding ofstrip material from the reel to a location outside the magazine for use.To effect such strip feeding, apparatus is disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,467,340, whereby the reel is rotated in an unwinding direction withinthe magazine and a pair of opposed rollers successively flex toward eachother opposed regions of the reel flanges as those regions arerespectively rotated past the rollers. This localized flexing of thereel flanges, in turn, imparts a transverse pinching force to successiveportions of the outermost convolution of strip material wound on thereel and, thereby, causes the outermost strip convolution to rotate withthe reel. Moreover, this localized pinching of the outermost stripconvolution bows it transversely, thereby causing the pinched stripportion to assume a longitudinally straight condition due to resistanceof the strip material to be flexed simultaneously both along andtransverse to its longitudinal axis. As the leading end of the strip isrotated past the location where the reel flanges are flexed by therollers, the pinching of successive trailing portions of the outermoststrip convolution thus causes the leading end to move tangentiallyoutward from the strip roll and into contact with a generally annularstrip guide surface of the magazine. Because successive portions of theoutermost strip convolution are continuously held between successiveopposed regions of the reel flanges, the leading strip end is moved withthe rotated reel and along the strip guide surface. As the leading endof the strip is moved in contact with this guide surface, it is directedby such surface to an exit channel in the magazine and passestherethrough for use at a predetermined location.

Although the strip feeding apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,467,340 is quite reliable; it is, however, generally adapted to beused with strip material of a single predetermined width.

Much of the commercially available strip material stored on a reelincluding for example, information bearing films or tapes, is generallyavailable in several different predetermined strip widths for anyparticular strip material. With this in mind, a strip feeding apparatusof the kind previously described has been recently devised for use witha plurality of strip bearing reels of respectively different flangemember spacing. This last-mentioned strip feeding apparatus is disclosedin commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 730,523and achieves its versatility by means of a roller assembly on which isdisposed several pairs of opposed rollercam surfaces. The cam surfacescomprising the individual pairs of such surfaces are spaced apart bydifferent predetermined distances respectively corresponding to thedifferent predetermined widths of strip material intended for use.Furthermore, the roller assembly is mounted so that each pair ofroller-cam surfaces can be moved along a path substantially normal tothe axis of rotation of a selected reel for flexing engagement of a camsurface pair, in the manner previously described, with the spaced flangemembers of a particular strip bearing reel to which such paircorresponds. While this strip feeding apparatus is adapted for use withstrip material of different widths, it will be appreciated that theadaptability of such apparatus as to the number of different widthstrips that can be handled thereby is generally limited to the number ofdiscrete pairs of cam surfaces disposed on the roller assembly.Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for strip handlingapparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successive regions ofthe outermost convolution of a roll of strip material to effect feedingof the leading strip end along a guide path from the roll, and which isimproved over such apparatus heretofore known to provide a greaterversatility regarding the number of different width strips that can behandled thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a novel and improved strip feeding apparatus of thekind previously described which is adapted for use with strip materialof different widths.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedstrip handling apparatus for supporting rolls of convoluted stripmaterial of different widths and for separating a leading strip portionfrom a roll so supported.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved strip handling apparatus for feeding strip material from a reelto a location spaced from the reel, such apparatus being adapted for usewith reels whose respective flange members are spaced apart from oneanother by different distances so that each reel can support stripmaterial of a corresponding different width.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a striphandling apparatus of the kind which transversely flexes successiveregions of the outennost convolution of a roll of strip material toeffect feeding of the leading strip end along a guide path from the rolland which is improved over such apparatus heretofore known to provide agreater versatility regarding the number of different width strips thatcan be handled thereby.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention astrip feeding apparatus, of the kind in which successive opposed regionsof the flanges of a reel rotating in an unwinding direction are flexedtoward each other to impart a transverse pinching force to successiveportions of the outermost convolution of strip material wound on thereel, is provided with an improved structure adapted to perform theforegoing flange-flexing function upon several reels of respectivelydifferent flange spacing. This improved structure comprises a pair ofopposed flange-flexing members movable relative to each other to varythe distance therebetween for engagement selectively with thedifferently spaced flanges of the various reels. Furthermore, the pairof flange-flexing members are biased for movement toward each other sothat when such members are respectively engaged with the flanges of arotated reel successive flange regions of the reel will be flexed towardeach other to effect strip feeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other featuresand objects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining themwill become more apparent by reference to the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment of such invention taken inconsideration with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of the improved strip feeding apparatus accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated incooperation with a magazine-reel unit in which is wound, on the reel, aroll of strip material of a first width;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevation view of the strip feeding apparatusand magazine-reel unit shown in FIG. 1, cross-sectioned along the line2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing a novel roller assembly of the apparatus in aposition to effect feeding of the leading strip end off the reel;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation view of the roller assembly depictedin FIG. 2, showing the position of such assembly upon initial contactwith the reel;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation view of the roller assemblypreviously shown, though illustrated in cooperation with a reel whoseflanges are spaced apart to support a roll of strip material of a secondwidth which is narrower than the first strip width depicted in FIGS. 1-3and showing the position of such assembly upon initial contact with thereel;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial front elevation views similar to FIG. 4showing the roller assembly as it moves upon rotation of the reel fromthe initial position shown in FIG. 4 to the strip feeding position shownin FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial front elevation views of the improved stripfeeding apparatus according to a modified embodiment of the presentinvention illustrated in cooperation with a reel whose flanges arespaced apart to support a roll of strip material of a third width whichis intermediate the first and second strip widths respectively depictedin FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6, showing a modified roller assembly as it movesupon rotation of the reel from the initial position shown in FIG. 7 tothe strip feeding position shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one embodiment of astrip feeding apparatus 10, certain features of which are more fullydisclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.730,523, entitled Film Threading Apparatus, filed in the name of ElmerO. Wangerin on May 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,435, and commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,628. Briefly stated, those features of theapparatus 10 which have heretofore been disclosed include a strip supplyreel spindle 11 rotatably mounted on a stationary support plate 12 and astrip guide channel 13 defined by opposed wall members 14 and 15 and byidler roller 16.

A strip supply magazine-reel unit 17 adapted to be installed on theapparatus 10 in the manner shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally similarto the corresponding magazine-reel unit disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340. Such a unit 17 comprises a strip supply reel 18of the standard type laterally enclosed by a magazine 19 provided withan internal rib 20 projecting inwardly from and spaced between theperipheral edges of the upper and lower flange members 21 and 22 of thereel. A cylindrical strip guide surface 23 of the rib 20 laterallysurrounds a roll of convoluted strip material 24 wound about the hubmember 25 of the reel 18 between the reel flanges 21 and 22. As shown inFIG. 1 this surface 23 surrounds the convoluted strip roll 24 except inthe region of a strip exit throat 26, which extends through the magazine19 to define the only passageway through which strip material can be fedfrom the reel 18.

When the magazine-reel unit 17 is installed on the strip feedingapparatus 10, the reel 18 is supported by the spindle 11 and is engagedby the spindle splines 27 so that rotation of the spindle is imparted tothe reel. Furthermore, opposed support lugs 28 and 29 located on thesupport plate 12 receive a base portion 30 of the magazine 17therebetween to maintain the magazine in a fixed position in which it isconcentric with the reel 18 and in which the strip exit throat 26 isaligned with a corresponding end of the strip guide channel 13.

Departing now from those features of the strip feeding apparatus 10which are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340 thereis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of 32. These members are locatedadjacent the installed magazine-reel unit 17 on a common axis ofrotation parallel to the rotational axis of the spindle 11.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the pair of rollers33 and 34 of the idler assembly 32 are mounted for rotation about ashaft 35 and are resiliently biased to move along the same shaft towardeach other and toward a shaft lug 36 (separating the rollers) by helicalcompression springs 37 and 38. The roller shaft 35 is supported byspaced bars 39 and 40 which are pivotally connected to the stationaryplate 12 by a connecting rod 41. Accordingly, the roller assembly 32 canbe pivoted within the confines of a plate aperture 42 and can belikewise pivoted in a manner such that the upper and lower rollers 33and 34 are movable into and out of lateral engagement with theperipheral edges respectively of the upper and lower reel flanges 21 and22 of the installed magazine-reel unit 17. A helical tension spring 43interconnecting the plate 12 and the roller assembly 32 resilientlybiases the assembly for such pivotal movement toward the installedmagazine-reel unit 17, but otherwise allows the roller assembly to bemanually pivoted away from the installed magazine-reel unit to permitremoval of the unit from the spindle 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a roller assembly 44which is a modification of the roller assembly 32 shown in FIGS. I6 andwhose like parts are referenced by the same numerals as in the exampleof the roller assembly 32. The modified roller assembly 44 is generallydistinguished from the previously described roller assembly 32 in thatits lower roller member 45 is not movable along the roller shaft 35;but, instead, is rotatably mounted interjacent the shaft lug 36 and thesupport bar 40 which, in this instance, is located within a recess 46 inthe stationary plate 12. However, it should be understood that themodified roller assembly 44 is mounted for pivotal movement about therod 41 and is limited in such movement by the confines of plate recess46 in much the same way as the roller assembly 32 is limited duringpivotal movement thereof by the confines of plate aperture 42.

By comparing FIGS. 2-3 with FIGS. 4-6 and with FIGS. 7-8, and asexplained more fully hereinafter in detail, it will be appreciated thatthe roller assemblies 32 and 44 are equally adapted for use with severalstrip bearing reels whose respective flange members are spaced apartfrom one another by different distances so that each reel can supportstrip material of a corresponding different width. By way ofillustration, in the magazine-reel unit 17 (FIGS. 1-3) the flangemembers 21 and 22 of reel 18 are spaced apart from one another tosupport strip material 24 with a width of 35mm; whereas, in the magazinereel-unit 61 the flange members 47 and 48 of reel 49 (FIGS. 4-6) arespaced apart from one another to support strip material 50 with an 8mmwidth, and in the magazine-reel unit 62 the flange members 51 and 52 ofreel 53 (FIGS. 7-8) are spaced apart from one another to support stripmaterial 54 with a 16mm width. Of course in these illustrations thecorresponding magazines 19 shown in FIGS. 1-3, 55 shown in FIGS. 4-6 and56 shown in FIGS. 7-8 are substantially the same except for appropriatechanges in size to accommodate the different width strips. Moreover, itshould be noted that the roller flange members 22, 48 and 52respectively of the 35mm, 8mm and 16mm strip bearing reels 18, 49 and 53assume the same installed position on the spindle 11, which position isdefined by a reel support collar 57 fixed to the spindle for rotationtherewith.

The magazines 19, 55 and 56 are each provided with a narrowed ribportion respectively shown as 58 in FIGS. l-3, 59in FIGS. 4-6 and 60 inFIGS. 7-8, which is laterally aligned with a corresponding pair of upperand lower reel flanges respectively shown as 21 and 22 in FIGS. 1-3, 47and 48 in FIGS. 4-6 and 51 and and 52 in FIGS. 7-8. These narrowed ribportions are disposed on the magazines so that when a magazinereel unitis installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10 in the manner previouslydescribed such portion will be located adupper and lower roller members33 and 34 of a roller assembly jacent the pair of rollers of a rollerassembly. As an illustration of the foregoing, it can be seen in FIGS. 1and 2 that the installed magazineyreel unit 17 is located with itsnarrowed rib portion 58 adjacent the roller members 33 and 34 of rollerassembly 32. Accordingly, the roller members of a roller as sembly canbe moved past the narrowed magazine rib portion of an installedmagazine-reel unit to contact opposed peripheral regions of the reelflanges of such unit.

Considering now the operation of the strip feeding apparatus as usedwith the 8mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 61, it can be seen in FIG.4 that the pair of rollers 33 and 34 are provided with two opposedconical surfaces 63 and 64 coaxial with the roller shaft 35 anddivergent with respect to each other outwardly from the shaft. When themagazine-reel unit 61 is supported in its installed position on thespindle 11 by the reel support collar 57, the influence of spring 43acting on the roller assembly 32 serves to position the assembly so thatthe conical surface 64 of the lower roller 34 (once moved past thenarrowed magazine rib portion 59) is in flexing contact with theperipheral edge of the lower flange member 48 of the reel 49, see FIG.4. Upon rotation of the 8mm strip bearing reel 49 by drive meanscomprising a suitable motor 65 connected to the spindle 11 through anappropriate gear unit 66, the continued force of spring 43 on the rollerassembly 32 and the inclined relation of the inwardly beveled rollersurface 64 with the lower reel flange 48 induces the lower roller 34 tobe lowered along the roller shaft 35 (against the upward urging ofspring 38) as the roller assembly moves toward the rotating reel,whereby successive portions of the lower reel flange 48 are flexedtoward the upper reel flange 47 as those portions are respectivelyrotated past the roller assembly 32, see FIG. 5. Upon continued drivingrotation of the reel 49, roller as sembly 32 is progressively moved bythe force of spring 43 toward the reel so as to continually induce thelower roller 34 to be further lowered along the roller shaft 35 untilopposed cylindrical lip surfaces 67 and 68 of the upper and lowerrollers 33 and 34 engage and, thereby, flex toward each other successiveopposed peripheral regions of the reel flanges 47 and 48, see FIG. 6.Here, it should be noted that the upper and lower flange members of reel49 are flexed toward each other because of the combined urging of spring43 on the roller assembly 32 and the opposed urging of springs 37 and 38on the upper and lower rollers 33 and 34. Accordingly, if the reel 49has been rotated in an unwinding direction by the motor 65 and gear unit66, the flexing of successive opposed flange regions of the reel towardeach other by the opposed rollers 33 and 34 will, in turn, impart atransverse pinching force to suecessive portions of the outermostconvolution of 8mm strip material 50 wound on the reel and, thereby, inthe manner previously described and more fully disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,340, effect a separating movement of theleading strip end from the next inwardly succeeding convolution of stripmaterial. Once separated, the leading strip end will be fed along thestrip guide surface 23 of the magazine and, thence, successively throughthe strip exit throat 27 and the strip guide channel 13 to apredetermined location (not shown) at which the strip material 50 can beutilized for its intended position, see FIG. 1.

When the 35mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 17 is installed on thestrip feeding apparatus 10, the influence of spring 43 acting on theroller assembly 32 serves to position the assembly so that the opposedconical surfaces 63 and 64 of the upper and lower rollers 33 and 34(once moved past the narrow magazine portion 58) are laterally alignedand in flexing contact respectively with the upper and lower flangemembers 21 and 22 of reel 18, see FIG. 3. Because the conical rollersurfaces 63 and 64 are disposed in camming relation respectively withthe reel flanges 21 and 22, upon rotation of the 35mm strip bearing reel18 in an unwinding direction generally designated by the arrow 69 inFIG. 1, the pair of rollers 33 and 34 will continually move away fromeach other along the roller shaft 35 (against the opposed urging ofsprings 37 and 38) as the roller assembly 32 is progressively moved bythe force of spring 43 toward the rotating reel. When the pair ofrollers 33 and 34 are spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. 2,their respective cylindrical lip surfaces 67 and 68 engage and, thereby,flex toward one another successive opposed peripheral regions of thereel flanges 21 and 22 so that the leading end of 35mm strip material 24will be fed from the rotating reel as shown in FIG. 1 and fullydescribed hereinbefore.

Referring now to the operation of the modified roller assembly 44 whenused, for example, with the 16mm strip bearing magazine-reel unit 62. Itcan be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 8 that when the reel 53 isrotated on the spindle 11 the upper roller 33 will be raised along theroller shaft 35, as the roller assembly 44 is progressively moved by theforce of spring 43 toward the rotating reel, until the cylindrical lipsurface 67 of such roller engages the upper reel flange 51. whereupon,the upper and lower rollers 33 and 45 flex successive opposed peripheralregions of the reel flanges 51 and 52 toward each other as those regionsare respectively rotated past the roller assembly 44. Accordingly, ifthe reel 53 has been rotated in an unwinding direction, the leading endof 16mm strip material 54 will be fed from the rotating reel asheretofore described in detail.

In the modified roller assembly 44 only the upper roller member 33 ismounted for movement along the roller shaft 35 (FIGS. 7-8); whereas, inthe roller assembly 32 both of the roller members 33 and 34 are mountedfor movement along the roller shaft 35 (FIGS. 2-6). Thus, by comparingFIGS. 7, 3 and 4, it should be appreciated that both the upper and lowerroller members 33 and 45 of the modified roller assembly 44 are adaptedto make initial contact respectively with the upper and lower reelflanges of an installed one of the 8mm, 16mm and 35mm strip bearingmagazine-reel units 61, 62 and 17 so that the upper roller member can beraised along the roller shaft in the manner previously described;whereas, for the same purpose, only the lower roller member 35 of theroller assembly 32 need make initial contact with the lower reel flangeof an installed magazine-reel unit, as illustrated by the example shownin FIGS. 4-6. Consequently, the lower roller member 45 of the modifiedroller assembly 44 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with a conical rollersurface 64 considerably less steep than the conical surface 63 of upperroller member 33 of the same assembly, whereby both roller members 33and 45 can make initial contact respectively with the reel flanges of amagazine-reel unit installed on the strip feeding apparatus 10regardless of the spacing between such flanges. However, it should beunderstood that other variations of the modified roller assembly 44 canbe effected. For example, the modified roller assembly 44 might beadapted to flex only the upper flanges 47, 51 and 21 of the reels 49, 53and 18, in whichcase the lower reel flanges 48, 52 and 22 could besupported by a substantially flat (as opposed to conical) annular rollermember (not shown) of the same assembly.

With respect to the previously described operational examples of thestrip feeding apparatus 10 when used with the 8mm, 16mm and 35mm stripbearing magazine-reel units 61, 62 and 17, it has been found that apreferable force for opposed springs 37 and 38 is 13 ounces and apreferable force for spring 43 is 25 ounces when the opposed conicalsurfaces 63 and 64 of the pair of rollers 33 and 34 are inclined at anangle of 45 with respect to their base. However, it will be appreciatedthat these values are cited by way of illustration only and that othervalues can be determined within the scope of the present inventionthrough routine experimentation by one having ordinary skill in the art.

It will now be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the artthat there has been described strip feeding apparatus of the kind whichtransversely flexes successive regions of the outermost convolution of aroll of strip material to effect feeding of the leading strip end alonga guide path from the roll and which is improved over such apparatusheretofore known to provide a greater versatility regarding the numberof different width strips that can be handled thereby.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail withparticular reference to two embodiments thereof, but it will beunderstood that variations and modifications can be effected within thespirit and scope of such invention.

Iclaim:

1. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths,apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolutionfrom such a roll, said apparatus comprising:

means for rotating such a convoluted strip roll in an unwindingdirection;

means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by said rotatingmeans and a predetermined location spaced from the rotated roll;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transverselyflex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermoststrip convolution of a rotated roll as those regions are respectivelymoved past a predetermined location along the path of rotation of therotated roll;

said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of saidstn'p flexing members for movement toward and away from the other ofsaid members to enable transverse flexing of different widths of stripmaterial.

2. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposingmeans further includes:

means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members toward theother of said members to transversely flex successive regions of theoutermost strip convolutionof a rotated roll.

3. Strip handling apparatus for selectively supporting rolls ofconvoluted strip material of different widths and for separating aleading strip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatuscomprising:

means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about theroll axis;

means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby inan unwinding direction about the roll axis;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transverselyflex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermoststrip convolution of a supported roll as the supported roll is rotatedby said rotating means;

said disposing means including means for mounting said pair of stripflexing members so that at least one of said members is movable towardand away from the other of said members and means for urging at leastone of said strip flexing members toward the other of said members.

4. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein saiddisposing means further includes:

means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement alonga path laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of asupported roll; and

means for urging said pair of strip flexing members for movement alongsaid intersecting path toward the outermost strip convolution of asupported roll.

5. Strip handling apparatus for alternatively supporting rolls ofconvoluted strip material of different widths and for feeding a leadingstrip portion from a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising:

means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about theroll axis;

means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby inan unwinding direction about the roll axis;

means defining a strip feed path between a supported roll and apredetermined location spaced from the supported roll;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means mounting said strip flexing members for rotation respectivelyabout a common axis substantially parallel to the roll axis of asupported roll and further mounting said members for movement toward andaway from each other along said rotation axis, said strip flexingmembers being so movable along said rotation axis between an idleposition wherein at least one of said members is spaced from theoutermost strip convolution of a supported roll and an operativeposition wherein said members are disposed to transversely flextherebetween a region of the outermost strip convolution of a supportedroll;

said mounting means including means resiliently biasing said stripflexing members for movement along said rotation axis toward each otherto transversely flex successive regions of the outermost stripconvolution of a supported roll between said members when the same aredisposed in said operative position and the supported roll is rotated bysaid rotating means.

6. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said pair ofstrip flexing members includes:

a pair of rollers; and

means respectively defining on said rollers two opposed conical surfacescoaxial with said rotation axis of said strip flexing members anddivergent with respect to each other outwardly from said rotation axis.

7. Strip handling apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

means mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along apath laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of asupported roll, said intersecting path being located in a planesubstantially perpendicular to a plane in which said rotation axis ofsaid strip flexing members is located; and

means resiliently biasing said pair of strip flexing members formovement along said intersecting path toward the outermost stripconvolution of a supported roll.

8. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths,apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolutionfrom such a roll, said apparatus comprising:

means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about theroll axis;

means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supported thereby inan unwinding direction about the roll axis;

means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by said rotatingmeans and a predetermined location spaced from the rotated roll;

a pair of strip flexing members; and

means for disposing said pair of strip flexing members to transverselyflex between said members, in turn, successive regions of the outermoststrip convolution of a rotated roll as those regions are respectivelymoved past a predetermined location along the path of rotation of therotated roll;

said disposing means including means for mounting at least one of saidstrip flexing members for movement toward and away from the other ofsaid members along a first predetermined path substantially parallel tothe roll axis of a supported roll and for mounting said pair of stripflexing members for movement along a second predetermined path laterallyintersecting the outermost strip convolution of the supported roll.

9. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pair ofstrip flexing members includes:

a pair of rollers mounted for rotation respectively about a common axiscoextensive with said first predetermined path; and

means respectively defining on said pair of rollers two 0pposed conicalsurfaces coaxial with said rotation axis and divergent with respect toeach other outwardly from said rotation axis.

10. Strip feeding apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein saiddisposing means further includes:

means for urging at least one of said strip flexing members along saidfirst predetermined path toward the other of said members and for urgingsaid pair of strip flexing members along said second predetermined pathtoward the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll.

11. For use with strip reels of the type each having a hub member and apair of flange members concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axisof the hub member in spaced opposed relation, wherein the distancebetween the flange members of each such pair respectively differs, andwherein at least one flange member of each such pair is resilientlyflexible toward the other flange member of the same pair, strip handlingapparatus comprising:

means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hubmember; means, engageable respectively with successive regions of atleast one of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel isrotated by said rotating means, for flexing those regions of the oneflange member so engaged toward the other of the pair of flange membersof a rotated reel; and

means mounting said strip flexing means for movement along apredetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe hub member of a rotated reel for, thereby, engaging successiveregions of at least one of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel.

12. For use with strip reels of different flange member spacing but eachof which includes a hub member and a pair of resiliently flexible flangemembers concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hubmember in uniformly spaced opposed relation, strip handling apparatuscomprising:

means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axis of its hubmember; a pair of rollers; and means for disposing said pair of rollersto sequentially flex between said rollers, successive opposed regions ofthe pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by saidrotating means; said disposing means including means for mounting atleast one of said rollers for movement toward and away from the other ofsaid rollers and means for urging at least one of said rollers towardthe other of said rollers. 13. Strip handling apparatus as recited inclaim 12, wherein said mounting means includes:

means for supporting said rollers for movement relative to each otheralong a predetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the hub member of a rotated reel and for rotation respectivelyabout a common axis coextensive with said predetermined path. 14. Striphandling apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said disposing meansfurther includes:

means for mounting said pair of rollers for movement along a pathextending between the pair of flanges of a rotated reel; and means forurging said pair of rollers for movement along said extending pathtoward a rotated reel.

1. For use with rolls of convoluted strip material of different widths,apparatus for feeding a leading end of the outermost strip convolutionfrom such a roll, said apparatus comprising: means for rotating such aconvoluted strip roll in an unwinding direction; means defining a stripfeed path between a roll rotated by said rotating means and apredetermined location spaced from the rotated roll; a pair of stripflexing members; and means for disposing said pair of strip flexingmembers to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successiveregions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll as thoseregions are respectively moved past a predetermined location along thepath of rotation of the rotated roll; said disposing means includingmeans for mounting at least one of said strip flexing members formovement toward and away from the other of said members to enabletransverse flexing of different widths of strip material.
 2. Stripfeeding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposing meansfurther includes: means for urging at least one of said strip flexingmembers toward the other of said members to transversely flex successiveregions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotated roll.
 3. Striphandling Apparatus for selectively supporting rolls of convoluted stripmaterial of different widths and for separating a leading strip portionfrom a roll so supported, said apparatus comprising: means forsupporting such a convoluted strip roll for rotation about the rollaxis; means for rotating said supporting means and a roll supportedthereby in an unwinding direction about the roll axis; a pair of stripflexing members; and means for disposing said pair of strip flexingmembers to transversely flex between said members, in turn, successiveregions of the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll as thesupported roll is rotated by said rotating means; said disposing meansincluding means for mounting said pair of strip flexing members so thatat least one of said members is movable toward and away from the otherof said members and means for urging at least one of said strip flexingmembers toward the other of said members.
 4. Strip handling apparatus asrecited in claim 3, wherein said disposing means further includes: meansfor mounting said pair of strip flexing members for movement along apath laterally intersecting the outermost strip convolution of asupported roll; and means for urging said pair of strip flexing membersfor movement along said intersecting path toward the outermost stripconvolution of a supported roll.
 5. Strip handling apparatus foralternatively supporting rolls of convoluted strip material of differentwidths and for feeding a leading strip portion from a roll so supported,said apparatus comprising: means for supporting such a convoluted striproll for rotation about the roll axis; means for rotating saidsupporting means and a roll supported thereby in an unwinding directionabout the roll axis; means defining a strip feed path between asupported roll and a predetermined location spaced from the supportedroll; a pair of strip flexing members; and means mounting said stripflexing members for rotation respectively about a common axissubstantially parallel to the roll axis of a supported roll and furthermounting said members for movement toward and away from each other alongsaid rotation axis, said strip flexing members being so movable alongsaid rotation axis between an idle position wherein at least one of saidmembers is spaced from the outermost strip convolution of a supportedroll and an operative position wherein said members are disposed totransversely flex therebetween a region of the outermost stripconvolution of a supported roll; said mounting means including meansresiliently biasing said strip flexing members for movement along saidrotation axis toward each other to transversely flex successive regionsof the outermost strip convolution of a supported roll between saidmembers when the same are disposed in said operative position and thesupported roll is rotated by said rotating means.
 6. Strip handlingapparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said pair of strip flexingmembers includes: a pair of rollers; and means respectively defining onsaid rollers two opposed conical surfaces coaxial with said rotationaxis of said strip flexing members and divergent with respect to eachother outwardly from said rotation axis.
 7. Strip handling apparatus asrecited in claim 5, further comprising: means mounting said pair ofstrip flexing members for movement along a path laterally intersectingthe outermost strip convolution of a supported roll, said intersectingpath being located in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane inwhich said rotation axis of said strip flexing members is located; andmeans resiliently biasing said pair of strip flexing members formovement along said intersecting path toward the outermost stripconvolution of a supported roll.
 8. For use with rolls of convolutedstrip material of different widths, apparatus for feeding a leading endof the outermost strip convolution from such a roll, said apparAtuscomprising: means for supporting such a convoluted strip roll forrotation about the roll axis; means for rotating said supporting meansand a roll supported thereby in an unwinding direction about the rollaxis; means defining a strip feed path between a roll rotated by saidrotating means and a predetermined location spaced from the rotatedroll; a pair of strip flexing members; and means for disposing said pairof strip flexing members to transversely flex between said members, inturn, successive regions of the outermost strip convolution of a rotatedroll as those regions are respectively moved past a predeterminedlocation along the path of rotation of the rotated roll; said disposingmeans including means for mounting at least one of said strip flexingmembers for movement toward and away from the other of said membersalong a first predetermined path substantially parallel to the roll axisof a supported roll and for mounting said pair of strip flexing membersfor movement along a second predetermined path laterally intersectingthe outermost strip convolution of the supported roll.
 9. Strip feedingapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pair of strip flexingmembers includes: a pair of rollers mounted for rotation respectivelyabout a common axis coextensive with said first predetermined path; andmeans respectively defining on said pair of rollers two opposed conicalsurfaces coaxial with said rotation axis and divergent with respect toeach other outwardly from said rotation axis.
 10. Strip feedingapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said disposing means furtherincludes: means for urging at least one of said strip flexing membersalong said first predetermined path toward the other of said members andfor urging said pair of strip flexing members along said secondpredetermined path toward the outermost strip convolution of a supportedroll.
 11. For use with strip reels of the type each having a hub memberand a pair of flange members concentrically disposed about alongitudinal axis of the hub member in spaced opposed relation, whereinthe distance between the flange members of each such pair respectivelydiffers, and wherein at least one flange member of each such pair isresiliently flexible toward the other flange member of the same pair,strip handling apparatus comprising: means for rotating such a reelabout the longitudinal axis of its hub member; means, engageablerespectively with successive regions of at least one of the pair offlange members of such a reel as the reel is rotated by said rotatingmeans, for flexing those regions of the one flange member so engagedtoward the other of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel; andmeans mounting said strip flexing means for movement along apredetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe hub member of a rotated reel for, thereby, engaging successiveregions of at least one of the pair of flange members of a rotated reel.12. For use with strip reels of different flange member spacing but eachof which includes a hub member and a pair of resiliently flexible flangemembers concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the hubmember in uniformly spaced opposed relation, strip handling apparatuscomprising: means for rotating such a reel about the longitudinal axisof its hub member; a pair of rollers; and means for disposing said pairof rollers to sequentially flex between said rollers, successive opposedregions of the pair of flange members of such a reel as the reel isrotated by said rotating means; said disposing means including means formounting at least one of said rollers for movement toward and away fromthe other of said rollers and means for urging at least one of saidrollers toward the other of said rollers.
 13. Strip handling apparatusas recited in claim 12, wherein said mounting means includes: means forsupporting said rollers for movEment relative to each other along apredetermined path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe hub member of a rotated reel and for rotation respectively about acommon axis coextensive with said predetermined path.
 14. Strip handlingapparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said disposing means furtherincludes: means for mounting said pair of rollers for movement along apath extending between the pair of flanges of a rotated reel; and meansfor urging said pair of rollers for movement along said extending pathtoward a rotated reel.